Side thruster for small boats

Abstract

A side thruster comprises a valve, a first water passageway, a second water passageway, a third passageway, a fourth passageway and a pump having an inlet and an outlet. The valve housing includes a first, second, third and fourth ports and a two-position barrier situated within the housing. When in the first position, the barrier connects the first port with the second port and the third port with the fourth port. When in the second position, the barrier connects the second port with the third port and the fourth port with the first port. The first passageway extends between the first port and a first side opening on a first side of the boat. The second passageway extends between the third port and a second side opening on a second side of the boat. The third water passageway extends between the second port and the pump outlet. The fourth water passageway extends between the pump inlet and the fourth port. When the barrier is moved to its first position, the pump draws water from the second side opening and discharges the water through the first side opening. Conversely, when the barrier is moved to its second position, the pump draws water from the first side opening and discharges the water through the second side opening.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A side thruster for a boat, comprising: a valve having a housing including first, second, third and fourth ports, and a two-position barrier in said housing, said barrier when in its first position connecting the first port with the second port and the third port with the fourth port, and when in its second position connecting the second port with the third port and the fourth port with the first port;   a first water passageway extending between the first port and a first side opening on a first side of the boat;   a second water passageway extending between the third port and a second side opening on the opposite side of the boat;   a pump having an inlet and an outlet;   a third water passageway extending between the second port and the pump outlet; and   a fourth water passageway extending between the pump inlet and the fourth port,   whereby the barrier may be moved into its first position and the pump used to pull water in from the second side opening and discharge it out through the first side opening, and the barrier may be moved into its second position and the pump used to pull water in from the first side opening and discharge it out through the second side opening.   
     
     
       2. The side thruster of claim 1, wherein the boat includes a bow and the first side opening is adapled to be mounted on a first side of the bow and the second side opening is adapted to be mounted on the second side of the bow. 
     
     
       3. The side thruster of claim 1, wherein the pump is a centrifuigal pump, a pump motor is associated with the pump for driving the pump, and a valve motor is associated with the valve for moving the barrier between its first and second positions. 
     
     
       4. The side thruster of claim 3, wherein a remote control is provided and is adapted to be mounted in a cockpit of the boat for controlling both the pump motor and the valve motor. 
     
     
       5. The side thruster of claim 4, wherein the boat includes a bow and the first side opening is on a first side of the bow and the second side opening is on the second side of the bow. 
     
     
       6. The side thruster of claim 3, wherein at least the first and second water passageways are of a diameter between substantially about one and one-half inches and substantially about three inches. 
     
     
       7. The side thruster of claim 3, wherein at least the first and second water passageways are of a diameter of substantially about two inches. 
     
     
       8. The side thruster of claim 6, wherein the boat includes a bow and the first side opening is on a first side of the bow and the second side opening is on the second side of the bow. 
     
     
       9. The side thruster of claim 1, wherein at least the first and second water passageways are of a diameter between substantially about one and one-half inches and about three inches. 
     
     
       10. The side thruster of claim 1, wherein at least the first and second water passageways are of a diameter of substantially about two inches. 
     
     
       11. The side thruster of claim 1, wherein the valve is an X-valve and the two-position barrier is a vane in the valve housing that is rotatable from its first position to its second position and from its second position to its first position, said X-valve permitting rotation of the vane from one position to the other while the pump is operating. 
     
     
       12. The side thruster of claim 11, wherein the boat includes a bow and the first side opening is adapted to be mounted on a first side of the bow and the second side opening is adapted to be mounted on the second side of the bow. 
     
     
       13. The side thruster of claim 11, wherein the pump is a centrifugal pump, a pump motor is associated with the pump for driving the pump, and a valve motor is associated with the valve for rotating the vane between its first and second positions. 
     
     
       14. The side thruster of claim 13, wherein a remote control is provided and is adapted to be mounted in a cockpit of the boat for controlling both the pump motor and the valve motor. 
     
     
       15. The side thruster of claim 14, wherein at least the first and second water passageways are of a diameter between substantially about one and one-half inches and substantially about three inches. 
     
     
       16. The side thruster of claim 14, wherein at least the first and second water passageways are of a diameter of substantially about two inches. 
     
     
       17. The side thruster of claim 3, wherein the pump, the pump motor, the valve, the valve motor and at least portions of the passageways together form an assembly that can be installed in and removed from the boat as a unit. 
     
     
       18. The side thruster of claim 17, wherein the boat includes a cockpit and a remote control is provided in the cockpit for controlling both the pump motor and the valve motor. 
     
     
       19. The side thruster of claim 13, wherein the pump, the pump motor, the valve, the valve motor and at least portions of the passageways together form an assembly that can be installed in and removed from the boat as a unit. 
     
     
       20. The side thruster of claim 19, wherein the boat includes a cockpit and a remote control is provided in the cockpit for controlling both the pump motor and the valve motor.